Pacific Northwest - I "lost" the RAMROD lottery, how'd you do?

I tried to get into RAMROD this year and just got the email yesterday that I am number 475 on the wait list. Apparently last year they cleared 250 off the list - so unlikely I will make it.

Am considering:

- Riding the route on my own (*not* the day of the ride, some other weekday when the traffic is light).
- Riding the Native Planet Classic (June 20) - Winthrop / North Cascades / Winthrop - 120 miles over the North Cascades Highway.


[Yes I know I can volunteer to work RAMROD this year to get a secure spot in RAMROD next year, but doesn't even sound like they take all volunteers]

Who got in?

If you're interested in a late-July weekday spin around the RAMROD course, LMK.

I was selected for the second year in a row. Now I'm off to buy a lottery ticket...

i lost as well, but i guess it evens out since i got in last year.

i'm thinking of doing it on an off-day at some point as well, perhaps as a 200k permanent (http://permanents.seattlerando.org/2007/01/0126-ramr.html) route (e.g. anytime brevet).

services are pretty limited once you get past Elbe; if i recall correctly, the only place to get water (or anything) between there and Greenwater is at the Paradise lodge, roughly halfway in between. i had breakfast there on last year's 600k through the area, and it really hit the spot!

btw when are the passes clear enough to bike through the park? i'm guessing no earlier than late may or so.

services are pretty limited once you get past Elbe; if i recall correctly, the only place to get water (or anything) between there and Greenwater is at the Paradise lodge, roughly halfway in between. i had breakfast there on last year's 600k through the area, and it really hit the spot!



There are services a bit farther in the park than Elbe -- there is a visitor center with food and groceries at Longmire, and then there is the visitor center at Paradise, as you mention. From Paradise to Greenwater is about 50 miles without services.

A somewhat less ambition plan of mine is to ride from home (on the East Side) to Orting to pick up the RAMROD route, and then get to Ashford in one day, stay in a motel, and then return home. About 200 miles round trip. Advantage is that you're doing the stretch without services early in the morning when you're fresher; then once you hit Greenwater you're close to civilization, and from Enumclaw on home you're pretty much back in civilization.

[I know the insane among you would consider that a one-day ride. I'm talking to you, Matt.]

I also spotted this 82-mile alternative Mt. Rainier loop on Mapmyride -

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wa/seattle/247629906696

BB; The Native Planet Classic is a great ride! I did it last year. Elevation gains are the same as RAMROD, the miles a bit less, the scenery is great, and the ride is well supported. What I liked best about the Native Planet Classic was the solitude. There were hardly any cars and very few riders. You really have the sense you're riding thru a wilderness area. Look at the elevation profile of that ride: 2 big climbs and 2 long screaming faast downhills.

I am #196 on the wait till next year list.......would love to do it before I can't!

I spoke with the Redmond Bicycle Club members at the expo about RAMROD registration. The next time I thought about it was when reading in these forums that the deadline had passed.

Someday, I'll probably take a nice sunny Tuesday or Wednesday off work and do the route myself. I've been making a point of becoming self-sufficient on my rides, not because I desire to pay Hammer hundreds of dollars for the "pleasure" of drinking Perpetuem, but rather so I can complete epic rides when no rest stops are provided.

I also did Native Planet last year. Great ride, although I was bonking pretty hard on the return trip up Washington Pass. The volunteers were extremely friendly and the food was awesome. +1 on the solitude compared to other organized rides.

Thanks for the advice on the Native Planet Classic - I just signed up. I had also signed up to ride the Tour de Blast (same day) a second time, so I guess I now have a Tour de Blast registration for sale (or else I'll watch the weather and pick a ride when the day gets closer...).

I think I am #350 or so on the wait list. I am planning on doing the permanent route once they open the roads ect.

I got in! But I broke my clavicle so my training is a bit off track.

I volunteered last year and automagically earned a bypass. Now I need to start training - training beyond my usual ~30 miles of daily commuting at least.

I am 175 on the wait list, probably get in. If not I will ride it some other day, cant be to hard eh?

I am 175 on the wait list, probably get in. If not I will ride it some other day, cant be to hard eh?

I'm starting to spook myself thinking of the Cayuse Pass climb. I've survived climbs almost that big before, but never with ~100 miles beforehand :twitchy:

So has anyone done the RAMROD before, for someone that would be new to the ride, what would you tell them, any advice?? Is it as hard as I am thinking??

I'm starting to spook myself thinking of the Cayuse Pass climb. I've survived climbs almost that big before, but never with ~100 miles beforehand :twitchy:

It does look a little intimidating on the profile. But, I started riding the Summits of Bothell routes here once or twice a week. There a few hills that push close to 20% grade in sections, although not as long as the sustained climbs on Ramrod, it should help a little bit.

It does look a little intimidating on the profile. But, I started riding the Summits of Bothell routes here once or twice a week. There a few hills that push close to 20% grade in sections, although not as long as the sustained climbs on Ramrod, it should help a little bit.

I hope you're not implying there are 20%+ grades lasting for several miles :eek:

What are these "sustained" climbs like? If I paced myself I could ride 5-6% for quite a while. I can do much steeper if they are rolling - getting a small break every 10 minutes or so to recoup.

Good training / awesome ride: Ride up to Sunrise at Mt Rainier. As soon as it opens, toss your bike in the car and drive up hwy 410 to the crystal mountain turn off. Start from there. You'll have 2 good climbs. The first, is a climb of approx 5 miles from the park entrance to the turnoff for Sunrise. Good warmup for whats to come. The second one, a 10 mile climb from the white river campground to Sunrise will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect for Cayuse. Not horribly steep but it is a constant effort. Bring warm clothes

I hope you're not implying there are 20%+ grades lasting for several miles :eek:

What are these "sustained" climbs like? If I paced myself I could ride 5-6% for quite a while. I can do much steeper if they are rolling - getting a small break every 10 minutes or so to recoup.

i think cayuse pass (the last one on the route) is the hardest, weighing in at 5-7% grade for 5 or 6 miles. something like that.

it's not so much the steepness that gets to people, just the sustained part, and in the heat no less. cayuse takes about an hour to climb, and it was damn hot last year.

fwiw i don't think there any grades above 10% or so on the whole ramrod route.

I hope you're not implying there are 20%+ grades lasting for several miles :eek:

What are these "sustained" climbs like? If I paced myself I could ride 5-6% for quite a while. I can do much steeper if they are rolling - getting a small break every 10 minutes or so to recoup.

No no, sorry for the confusion. There are a few hills around here(Bothell area) that push close to 20% for a hundred feet or so, but usually back off to average around 15-16%. Hill repeats up those should help build a little endurance for the longer, but thankfully less steep hills on the Ramrod course.

I don't think there is anything sustained over 5% on ramrod? I have only ridden it once but would say muscular endurance for the length of the ride is more important than pure hill climbing. Once you get to the park its a beautiful ride and the climbs give a great speed to take in the scenery. When I get in again I will remember the following: bring a camera, remember how freezing cold it is at the start but it will get warmer, that Cayuse isn't that bad other than the lack of pavement in places last year, bring chamois creme and always have some buddies to make the flat ground portions go by in a nice paceline.
Two other early season options for long hill climbs .... Blewett Pass which should be open now, it has a nice wide shoulder and you can take old blewett road 1/2 way up for more back country. The other would be Hurricane ridge but I think it is closed for re-surfacing work. I think HR is harder than ramrod considering the shorter miles

Have fun!

The RCC just put a couple of tickets up on eBay (the $ goes to park development funds which is cool too). More info: http://blog.redmondcyclingclub.org/?p=126

They updated the wait list,I moved from 175 to 65!!!

They updated the wait list,I moved from 175 to 65!!!

I'm guessing over the next 90 days that will continue as people realize they haven't trained enough/get injured/flake/etc.

I just checked and I'm now 330 or something on the list, down from 475.

Update May 14: now at 303.

They updated the list again, position 39!! Time to start those interval sessions with a vengeance!

I don't think there is anything sustained over 5% on ramrod? I have only ridden it once but would say muscular endurance for the length of the ride is more important than pure hill climbing. Two other early season options for long hill climbs .... Blewett Pass which should be open now, it has a nice wide shoulder and you can take old blewett road 1/2 way up for more back country. The other would be Hurricane ridge but I think it is closed for re-surfacing work. I think HR is harder than ramrod considering the shorter miles

Have fun!

I rode last week on Hwy 410 on the Yakima side of Chinook Pass - absolutely beautiful day with no traffic because the pass was still closed. One of these days I'll have enough time to try and do RAMROD. My dad did it at least 4 times back in the 90's and always said it was his favorite.

I haven't done Blewett Pass for training yet. Other good hills - you can ride from the T-intersection at Hwy 97/970 on the way to Blewett back toward Ellensburg. It's a good 3.5 to 4 mile climb on the north side of the hill and 2.5 miles on the way back on the Ellensburg side. My favorite, though, is to hop on I-82 at the bottom of the hill out of Ellensburg to Yakima (Manastash Ridge) and head south. It's a good 5 miles at 5-6% steady grade with a really nice, wide shoulder.

Wait list updated again, I got in!!

Got an e-mail yesterday that I made it off the waitlist - sweet, I'm registered!

Should be a fun ride, definitely looking forward to it. And hopefully I'll get there in time so I can roll out with the groups, not solo.

Anyone get a chance to read about the RAMROD course update?

http://blog.redmondcyclingclub.org/?p=175

There's a "route B" as a contingency if some construction work does not complete in time. I didn't look at any topo maps or anything, but this alternative route looks steeper in parts.

Hmm, didn't hear about the alternate course until now, thanks for the update.

I could go with either one - haven't done Crystal Mtn yet, so why not? Too bad we'd miss out on Paradise, but Crystal's views(?) would hopefully make up for it.

Wow, the wait list is shrinking quickly.

I'm now at 205...I was originally at 475. I might make it.

I'm not wild about the alternate route myself...since the climb to Crystal is up-and-back, it would be pretty tempting (at least for me) to skip it when you reach that point of the ride. One thing I like about the Ramrod route is once you're committed, you're committed. The "short way" home is also the long way home...

Maybe skipping Crystal would save just enough energy so I could ride home after the ride... :)

if 356 more people flake out I am in! That would be something like 1/2 the field right?

I am registered for my first RAMROD and very nervous about it. I really don't know what to expect except a lot of hill climbing and a lot of exhaustion. Thanks for sharing the link about the possible route change. Course B bums me out. I was really looking forward to the traditional course. I don't know if I will be so motivated to do all the climbing without the same scenery.

I am registered for my first RAMROD and very nervous about it. I really don't know what to expect except a lot of hill climbing and a lot of exhaustion. Thanks for sharing the link about the possible route change. Course B bums me out. I was really looking forward to the traditional course. I don't know if I will be so motivated to do all the climbing without the same scenery.

I plan to drive to Greenwater early this Saturday and ride up to Sunrise and back. I figure that'd be a reasonable proving ride. As I recall from google maps, that's about 60 miles round trip - which works out logistically for me since I have other commitments that afternoon.

Assuming that is something that doesn't destroy me, my next goal is to ride from my place (Auburn/Easthill) to Sunrise and back. That's like 120 miles with an estimate 4-5K feet elevation gain. When I get that done, I'll know where I stand both physically and equipment.

Anyone see the latest weather forecast?

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 94.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 63.

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

:O